US20030063953A1 - Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system - Google Patents
Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030063953A1 US20030063953A1 US09/969,479 US96947901A US2003063953A1 US 20030063953 A1 US20030063953 A1 US 20030063953A1 US 96947901 A US96947901 A US 96947901A US 2003063953 A1 US2003063953 A1 US 2003063953A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- riser
- dedicated
- cylinders
- tensioner
- tensioning
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
- E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
- E21B19/00—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables
- E21B19/002—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling
- E21B19/004—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform
- E21B19/006—Handling rods, casings, tubes or the like outside the borehole, e.g. in the derrick; Apparatus for feeding the rods or cables specially adapted for underwater drilling supporting a riser from a drilling or production platform including heave compensators
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Geology (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
- Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
- Earth Drilling (AREA)
- Movable Scaffolding (AREA)
- Conveying And Assembling Of Building Elements In Situ (AREA)
- Lift-Guide Devices, And Elevator Ropes And Cables (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- Drilling and production operations for the exploration and production of offshore minerals require a floating platform that is as stable as possible against environmental forces. To avoid fatigue on the risers, some floating platforms (e.g., Spars) have drilling and production risers that are supported by buoyancy “cans” attached to each of the individual risers. As the water depth increases, larger buoyancy cans are used to support the in-water weight of the risers. Larger buoyancy cans require larger center-wells, which, in turn, increase the hull diameter. Increasing the hull diameter increases the hydrodynamic environmental loads acting on the platform. A larger mooring system is then required to withstand the increased environmental loads. These undesirable effects increase the fabrication and installation costs.
- With present buoyancy can riser support systems, as the hull displaces laterally in response to environmental loads, the risers undergo a considerable amount of downward motion, or pull-down, with respect to the hull. Counterbalancing these environmental loads is crucial in order to avoid destruction of the risers or the platform. Counterbalancing environmental loads by tying the risers to a single table, gimballing the risers, or both, provide some additional support, but such systems still cannot support large tensile loads possible in offshore environments.
- A need, therefore, exists for an improved apparatus, method and system that support drilling and production risers.
- The described problems in supporting drilling and production risers are addressed by an apparatus, method and system having a dedicated riser tensioner for each riser, thereby allowing each riser to move vertically independently of the other risers without requiring gimballing. Further, the invention cross-couples the dedicated riser tensioners as a way to soften motions other than heave.
- According to one aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for supporting risers in a floating platform. The apparatus comprises a table disposed above a hull-top surface, a first riser opening in the table, and a first dedicated riser tensioner attached to the table and disposed about the first riser opening. The apparatus further comprises a second riser opening, and a second dedicated riser tensioner attached to the table and disposed about the second riser opening.
- According to another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for supporting risers in a floating platform. The method comprises tensioning a first riser with a first dedicated riser tensioner. In addition, the method comprises tensioning a second riser with a second dedicated riser tensioner, wherein the first dedicated riser tensioner is responsive to the second dedicated riser tensioner.
- According to another aspect of the invention, a system is provided for supporting risers in a floating platform. The system comprises a means for tensioning a first riser and a means for tensioning a second riser, wherein the means for tensioning a first riser is responsive to a means for tensioning a second riser.
- FIG. 1 is a cross-section of an example embodiment of the invention showing a Spar-type floating platform showing the risers and dedicated riser tensioners.
- FIG. 2 is a top view of an example embodiment of the invention showing a Spar-type floating platform having a table, riser openings, risers, pull tube openings, pull tubes, miscellaneous openings, access shaft, and the Spar-hull.
- FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of the invention showing a cross-coupling arrangement between the dedicated riser tensioners.
- FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an example embodiment of the invention.
- Referring now to FIG. 1, an apparatus for supporting
risers top surface 21 and includes a first riser opening 25 a and a firstdedicated riser tensioner 27 a that is attached to the table 18 and disposed about the first riser opening 25 a. A second riser opening 25 b is also seen disposed about a seconddedicated riser tensioner 27 b. In further embodiments of the invention, more than tworisers dedicated riser tensioners riser openings 25 are used. - Turning now to FIG. 2, another example embodiment of the invention is seen in which the table18 comprises a
grid 30. Thegrid 30 hasrows 31 andcolumns 32 that intersect to formsquare areas 35. Further, each of theseareas 35 is capable of having one of theriser openings 25 to accept ariser area 35 need not be utilized on the table 18. In the example embodiment shown in FIG. 2, theareas 35 that haveriser openings 25 comprise aquincunxial arrangement 38, whereby agrid 40, having threerows 31 and threecolumns 32, is formed. A “quincunxial arrangement” is identical to the dot representation of the number five on a standard die. - The four
lateral sides 33 of thegrid 40 further comprise alinear arrangement 39 of threeareas 35 havingriser openings 25 adjoining each one of thesides 33. That is, as opposed to the top or bottom sides of thegrid 40, each of the fourlateral sides 33 of thegrid 40 have threeareas 35. As seen,riser openings 25 are in alinear arrangement 39 and are adjoined to each one of thesides 33 of thegrid 40. - Other example embodiments of the invention comprise sizes, numbers, and shapes of the
areas 35 that are different from the gridwork on the table 18. Further, other example embodiments include different numbers and types ofriser openings 25 in the table 18. - Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, in some example embodiments of the invention, at least one of the
risers 10 a and/or 10 b comprises a drilling riser. According to alternative embodiments, at least one of therisers 10 a and/or 10 b comprises a production riser. Further, variations in the number ofrisers risers dedicated riser tensioner - Focusing now on FIG. 2, according to another example embodiment of the invention, the
dedicated riser tensioners cylinders 28. The plurality ofcylinders 28, in some embodiments, comprises fourcylinders 28 coupled to eachproduction riser 10 b. In some examples, thecylinders 28 comprise pneumatic cylinders; while, in other embodiments,cylinders 28 comprise hydraulic cylinders. Other types ofcylinders 28 are useful in other example embodiments of the invention, as are mixtures of the types ofcylinders 28. - A plurality of
pull tubes 50 is dispersed near the edges of the table 18. Thepull tubes 50 comprise at least oneflowline pull tube 52, at least one exportgas pull tube 54, at least one exportoil pull tube 56, at least one commercialumbilical pull tube 58, and at least oneumbilical pull tube 60. Inclusion or exclusion of some or all of thesepull tubes 50 are useful according to various embodiments, as areother pull tubes 50 not specifically mentioned. - A plurality of
openings 65 are dispersed near the edges of the table 18. According to some such example embodiments, the following are provided: at least one seawater opening 67, at least one jockey opening 70, at least oneseachest feed 71, and at least oneaccess shaft 73. Inclusion or exclusion of some or all of theseopenings 65 is within the scope of the present invention, as areother openings 65 not specifically mentioned above. - Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, according to other example embodiments of the invention, at least a first
dedicated riser tensioner 27 b and a seconddedicated riser tensioner 27 b are engaged in across-coupling arrangement 75. While it is production dedicatedriser tensioners 27 b engaged incross-coupling arrangements 75, as shown, other types of dedicated riser tensioners (e.g., drilling riser tensioners) are cross-coupled in other embodiments of the invention. Further, more than tworisers tensioners dedicated riser tensioners riser tensioners 27 b comprises aset 28 a ofcylinders 28 for supporting aproduction riser 10 b; therefore, there aremultiple sets 28 b ofcylinders 28 for supportingmultiple risers 10 b. It is thesemultiple sets 28 b ofcylinders 28 that are the subject of thecross-coupling arrangement 75 and form across-coupling circuit 91. In one example embodiment of the invention, there is a symmetrical pairing 81 of eachcylinder 28 in theset 28 a ofcylinders 28 withother cylinders 28 in themultiple sets 28 b ofcylinders 28. In various embodiments, symmetry in pairing thecylinders 28 balances counteracting environmental loads. In the illustrated example, across-coupling arrangement 75 of thecylinders 28 comprises symmetrical pairing 81 byrows 31, and a point of reference for the symmetrical pairing 81 byrows 31 determined from the center of thegrid 30. - To elaborate on the
cross-coupling arrangement 75 involving symmetrical pairing 81 byrows 31, a table entitled “Tensioner Interconnecting Plumbing” appears on FIG. 3. Referring to that table, under “Row Pairing,” it is seen that thecylinders 28 in rows A and E are paired with each other, thecylinders 28 in rows B and D are paired with each other, and thecylinders 28 in row C are paired with themselves. Similarly, in further embodiments of the invention, table 18 is expanded by tworows 31, so that thecylinders 28 have the following pairing: rows A and G, rows B and F, rows C and E, and row D with row D. Finally, it should be noted that in the specific embodiment shown, each one of the fourcylinders 28 in the set 28 a is located near a different one of the fourvertices 79 within each one of the substantiallysquare areas 35. - Under “Column Pairing,” it is seen that the
cylinders 28 incolumns cylinders 28 incolumns cylinders 28 incolumn 3 are paired with themselves. Similarly, in further embodiments of the invention, table 18 is expanded, for example, by twocolumns 32, so that thecylinders 28 have the following pairing:columns 1 and 7,columns 2 and 6,columns column 4 withcolumn 4. As with the symmetrical pairing 81 byrows 31, the symmetrical pairing 81 bycolumns 32 may formcross-coupling arrangements 75 not explicitly disclosed, but are deemed to be implicitly disclosed because suchcross-coupling arrangements 75 are within the same spirit and scope as the invention. - Under “Position Number Pairing,” it is seen that a
cylinder 28 inposition 1 is paired with anothercylinder 28 inposition 1, acylinder 28 inposition 2 is paired with anothercylinder 28 inposition 2, acylinder 28 inposition 3 is paired with anothercylinder 28 inposition 3, and so forth. Similarly, in further examples, table 18 is expanded, such as by twocylinders 28, wherein the symmetrical pairing 81 by identical position-number 85 remains the same in kind, but differs only in amount ofposition numbers 85 to be paired. As with the symmetrical pairing 81 byrows 31 and bycolumns 32, although other position-number cross-coupling arrangements 75 are used in other embodiments of the invention. - Turning now to other aspects of the invention, a method and a system for supporting risers in a floating platform are disclosed. Although only the system is discussed below, the previous and foregoing discussions are understood to enable both the method and system disclosed herein.
- Accordingly, in one example embodiment, as seen in FIG. 4, a
system 100 is disclosed for supporting afirst riser 105 and asecond riser 110 with a floatingplatform 115. Thesystem 100 comprises ameans 125 for tensioning thefirst riser 105 in response to anenvironmental load 130, and ameans 135 for tensioning thesecond riser 110 in response to the sameenvironmental load 130. - The means125 for tensioning the
first riser 105 is responsive to themeans 135 for tensioning thesecond riser 110 in that thesystem 100 comprises the above-described apparatus 15, wherein FIGS. 2 and 3 show across-coupling arrangement 75 between thecylinders 28 that make up thededicated riser tensioners risers system 100, themeans dedicated riser tensioners first riser 105, thesecond riser 110, and allother risers means risers platform 115. - Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such obvious alterations, modifications and improvements, though not expressly described above, are nevertheless intended to be implied and are within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing discussion is intended to be illustrative only, and not limiting; the invention is limited and defined by the following claims and equivalents thereto.
Claims (45)
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/969,479 US6692193B2 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2001-10-02 | Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system |
PCT/US2002/031381 WO2003029606A2 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2002-10-02 | Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system |
BRPI0213050-5A BR0213050B1 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2002-10-02 | apparatus to support rising columns on a floating platform. |
MXPA04003089A MXPA04003089A (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2002-10-02 | Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system. |
NO20040932A NO334951B1 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2004-03-03 | Apparatus for carrying risers in a floating platform. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US09/969,479 US6692193B2 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2001-10-02 | Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030063953A1 true US20030063953A1 (en) | 2003-04-03 |
US6692193B2 US6692193B2 (en) | 2004-02-17 |
Family
ID=25515609
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US09/969,479 Expired - Lifetime US6692193B2 (en) | 2001-10-02 | 2001-10-02 | Dedicated riser tensioner apparatus, method and system |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US6692193B2 (en) |
BR (1) | BR0213050B1 (en) |
MX (1) | MXPA04003089A (en) |
NO (1) | NO334951B1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003029606A2 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120099930A1 (en) * | 2010-10-21 | 2012-04-26 | Vetco Gray Inc. | System for supplemental tensioning for enhanced platform design and related methods |
US20120292041A1 (en) * | 2011-05-17 | 2012-11-22 | Drilling Technological Innovations, LLC | Floating vessel for supporting well head surface equipment |
US9976364B2 (en) * | 2016-09-07 | 2018-05-22 | Frontier Deepwater Appraisal Solutions LLC | Floating oil and gas facility with a movable wellbay assembly |
Families Citing this family (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20080187401A1 (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2008-08-07 | Tom Bishop | Riser tensioner for an offshore platform |
BRPI0809450A2 (en) * | 2007-03-26 | 2014-09-09 | Technip France | FLOATING INSTALLATION, SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING FIELD DEVELOPMENT DRILLING AND COMPLETING / PRODUCTION WORK, AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING FIELD DEVELOPMENT PERFORMANCE WITH COMPLETE WELL OR PRODUCTION WORK FROM A FLOATING INSTALLATION. |
CA2721077C (en) * | 2008-04-10 | 2013-12-24 | Weatherford/Lamb, Inc. | Landing string compensator |
US8522880B2 (en) * | 2008-04-29 | 2013-09-03 | Itrec B.V. | Floating offshore structure for hydrocarbon production |
EP2616626B1 (en) * | 2010-09-13 | 2018-01-03 | Magnuson Patents, LLC | Multi-operational multi-drilling system |
SG11201405314VA (en) | 2012-03-05 | 2014-09-26 | Cameron Int Corp | Floating structure and riser systems for drilling and production |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4379657A (en) * | 1980-06-19 | 1983-04-12 | Conoco Inc. | Riser tensioner |
US4470721A (en) * | 1980-10-10 | 1984-09-11 | John Brown Engineers And Constructors Ltd. | Crane assembly for floatable oil/gas production platforms |
US4702321A (en) | 1985-09-20 | 1987-10-27 | Horton Edward E | Drilling, production and oil storage caisson for deep water |
US4740109A (en) | 1985-09-24 | 1988-04-26 | Horton Edward E | Multiple tendon compliant tower construction |
US4934870A (en) | 1989-03-27 | 1990-06-19 | Odeco, Inc. | Production platform using a damper-tensioner |
BR9301600A (en) | 1993-04-20 | 1994-11-08 | Petroleo Brasileiro Sa | Tensioning system of upward rigid tubes by means of an articulated grid |
US5706897A (en) | 1995-11-29 | 1998-01-13 | Deep Oil Technology, Incorporated | Drilling, production, test, and oil storage caisson |
EP0945337A1 (en) | 1998-03-27 | 1999-09-29 | Single Buoy Moorings Inc. | Mooring construction |
US6371697B2 (en) | 1999-04-30 | 2002-04-16 | Abb Lummus Global, Inc. | Floating vessel for deep water drilling and production |
US6691784B1 (en) | 1999-08-31 | 2004-02-17 | Kvaerner Oil & Gas A.S. | Riser tensioning system |
AU2001269872A1 (en) * | 2000-06-15 | 2001-12-24 | Control Flow, Inc. | Tensioner/slip-joint assembly |
US6431284B1 (en) * | 2000-10-03 | 2002-08-13 | Cso Aker Maritime, Inc. | Gimbaled table riser support system |
-
2001
- 2001-10-02 US US09/969,479 patent/US6692193B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
-
2002
- 2002-10-02 MX MXPA04003089A patent/MXPA04003089A/en active IP Right Grant
- 2002-10-02 BR BRPI0213050-5A patent/BR0213050B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2002-10-02 WO PCT/US2002/031381 patent/WO2003029606A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2004
- 2004-03-03 NO NO20040932A patent/NO334951B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20120099930A1 (en) * | 2010-10-21 | 2012-04-26 | Vetco Gray Inc. | System for supplemental tensioning for enhanced platform design and related methods |
US8540460B2 (en) * | 2010-10-21 | 2013-09-24 | Vetco Gray Inc. | System for supplemental tensioning for enhanced platform design and related methods |
US20120292041A1 (en) * | 2011-05-17 | 2012-11-22 | Drilling Technological Innovations, LLC | Floating vessel for supporting well head surface equipment |
US8517109B2 (en) * | 2011-05-17 | 2013-08-27 | Drilling Technological Innovations, LLC | Floating vessel for supporting well head surface equipment |
US9976364B2 (en) * | 2016-09-07 | 2018-05-22 | Frontier Deepwater Appraisal Solutions LLC | Floating oil and gas facility with a movable wellbay assembly |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2003029606A3 (en) | 2003-12-18 |
US6692193B2 (en) | 2004-02-17 |
WO2003029606A2 (en) | 2003-04-10 |
MXPA04003089A (en) | 2005-03-31 |
BR0213050A (en) | 2004-10-05 |
NO20040932L (en) | 2004-04-01 |
BR0213050B1 (en) | 2012-01-10 |
NO334951B1 (en) | 2014-08-04 |
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